At this year’s Guandu Festival, I wanted to offer a unique experience filled with a sense of ceremony—an immersive journey through the “Five Elements and Six Senses of Guandu.” This static installation, themed around the five elements (metal, wood, water, fire, earth) and the six senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, mind), invites visitors to slow down and savor the cultural and natural essence of Guandu amidst the festival’s vibrant atmosphere.
The Five Elements and Six Senses of Guandu
Beneath the bustle of celebration lies a quieter, more poetic beauty unique to Guandu.
This tea installation was designed to guide visitors into a deeper sensory and cultural experience of the region, connecting the tangible qualities of the Five Elements with the visceral awareness of the Six Senses. Every place carries its own flavor. Through this event, we’re not simply serving tea—we are inviting cultural exploration, and tasting the spirit of the land.
Water’s Fluidity: The Stillness of the Tamsui River
The first experience begins with a transparent glass plate placed before each guest, representing the water element and evoking the clarity and gentleness of the Tamsui River. Flowing through Guandu, this river has long nourished the land—once rich with shellfish and bustling duck farms, famous for their salted duck eggs.
Today, we use spring water from Beitou to brew coffee, gently awakening the senses of sight, sound, smell, and taste. With each sip, we hope guests begin to uncover the subtle flavors and quiet strength of Guandu.
Earth’s Support: The Ceramic Legacy of Guizikeng
Guandu is the birthplace of Taiwan’s ceramic industry, once home to rich porcelain clay beds in Guizikeng. At this event, we present raw clay from this site to remind guests of its once-vibrant legacy.
The porcelain cup in each hand today is the result of years of technical innovation led by Heinrich Wang. With bold silhouettes and refined precision, these cups reflect a new aesthetic for porcelain—offering not just a vessel, but a renewed sensory experience.
From tradition to innovation, this tea table becomes a living story of Guandu’s past, reinterpreted through form and fire.
Fire’s Passion: The Sulfur of Beitou
At each seat lies a piece of natural sulfur from Beitou—symbolizing the volcanic force of Mount Datun and the vitality of the region’s hot springs.
Sulfur is a reminder of the warmth, energy, and prosperity that once defined the land, while also reflecting the changes over time. It rekindles a sense of memory and feeling—of heat and humanity passing through generations.
Wood’s Vitality: Mangroves and Water Banyans
Representing the wood element, a sprig of water banyan from Guandu’s mangrove wetlands is placed in a miniature vase at every table. These wetlands are a vital part of Guandu’s ecosystem, embodying renewal and resilience.
In this space, I hope the vitality of wood inspires guests to feel the living pulse of the landscape—the green breath that keeps the land vibrant.
Metal’s Blessing: Divine Lots from Guandu Temple
The symbol of metal is represented by the “Best Fortune” lot from Guandu Temple, one of Taiwan’s most revered temples with over three million pilgrims annually.
Today, each guest receives a fortune slip as a blessing for peace and prosperity. More than a ritual, this gesture bridges the sacred traditions of Guandu with contemporary life—blessing the senses as well as the soul.
Bringing Home the Scent of Guandu
Finally, accompanied by a specially composed piece by Chen Yung-Feng, Executive Director of the Guandu Cultural Foundation, I hope this Five Elements and Six Senses tea table offers a moment of pause and depth during the festival.
Blending history, culture, ecology, and flavor, this installation is an invitation to rediscover Guandu. May each guest leave with their own impression—a taste of Guandu—to carry home in heart and memory.
